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The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
I found my nan's semi-naked body after she was killed by tights fetish maniac.. and then he moved down the road from me
AS she walked into her grandmother's silent house, young Sharon Owens had a sense of foreboding. It had been a sanctuary to the 12-year-old since her dad died, but was to become a place that would haunt her for ever. 6 Sharon was horrified to discover that her grandmother's killer had been housed in a hostel just minutes from her own home Credit: - Commissioned by The Sun 6 Sharon found the bludgeoned body of her beloved nan Glenys Credit: WNS 6 Sharon was informed that Donald Sheridan had been arrested and charged with the sickening crime Credit: WNS It was December 1985 and Sharon had just finished her paper round when she entered the living room to find the bludgeoned body of her nana Glenys on the floor. The 67-year-old had been raped, killed and left wearing nothing but her pants and a pair of tights by a murderer with a twisted fetish. Almost 40 years on, Sharon was rocked to the core when she discovered not only that the killer had been released from prison, but that he was located just 30 minutes from where she now lived. 'Nana was my entire world, my everything,' says Sharon, 52. 'It's nearly 40 years since I've felt her comforting arms around me. She was like a tiny bird, so petite at 4ft 9in tall, but she had the biggest heart I've ever known. 'That terrible day on December 13, 1985, will haunt me for ever.' Glenys had been Sharon's saviour after her father, John — who was Glenys's son — had died three years earlier of cancer, aged 41. Her mum, Beryl, had struggled and was emotionally distant. The family home was chaotic, so Sharon moved in with Glenys in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales . 'My nana had become my sanctuary after losing my dad,' says Sharon, who was one of six children. 'Her three-bedroom house was filled with warmth. 'She didn't have much money , but she had a little leather purse she'd fill with coins and then give to me to spend when it was full. 'Mushroom killer' Erin Patterson GUILTY of murdering three relatives with deadly beef wellington 'She'd buy me Breakaway chocolate biscuits and we'd snuggle on the sofa watching EastEnders . 'She taught me life skills, too. How to be independent, how to manage money and, crucially, how to love and care for others.' Earlier that fateful day, Sharon had popped in after school to tell her grandmother she would be doing her paper round before heading back for dinner. 'Nana was always happy to see me and gave me a big hug,' she recalls. But Glenys was not alone. Donald Sheridan, a friend of Sharon's older brother, was at the house. 'He didn't say anything, he just stared at me,' says Sharon. 'Nana loved everyone, but I knew she wasn't keen on Donald. She didn't like my brother being friends with him, but she'd welcomed him in with her kind nature.' It was 9pm when Sharon returned to Glenys's house and tried to let herself in. She says: 'Nana always left a key on a string behind the front door. You could put your hand through the letter box and retrieve it. 'But when I put my hand through as usual, there was no key. I looked through the letter box and called out, but there was no answer, despite the living room and landing light being on.' 6 Sharon Owens pictured aged 11, a year before her grandmother was murdered Credit: WNS 'She'd buy me Breakaway chocolate biscuits and we'd snuggle on the sofa watching EastEnders. 'She taught me life skills, too. How to be independent, how to manage money and, crucially, how to love and care for others.' Earlier that fateful day, Sharon had popped in after school to tell her grandmother she would be doing her paper round before heading back for dinner. 'Nana was always happy to see me and gave me a big hug,' she recalls. But Glenys was not alone. Donald Sheridan, a friend of Sharon's older brother, was at the house. 'He didn't say anything, he just stared at me,' says Sharon. 'Nana loved everyone, but I knew she wasn't keen on Donald. She didn't like my brother being friends with him, but she'd welcomed him in with her kind nature.' It was 9pm when Sharon returned to Glenys's house and tried to let herself in. She says: 'Nana always left a key on a string behind the front door. You could put your hand through the letter box and retrieve it. 'But when I put my hand through as usual, there was no key. I looked through the letter box and called out, but there was no answer, despite the living room and landing light being on.' We walked into the house together and found Nana dead, semi-naked in front of the fire in her living room. I just screamed and screamed. 'I was thrust into a world without the unconditional love and the security Nana had given me, forced to move back into an uncaring home.' 'I didn't pass any of my exams, I truanted and I left aged 15 without any qualifications. I didn't care about anything,' she says. 'I experienced flashbacks and felt guilty for not being at home to protect Nana.' As Sharon grew into a young woman, she tried to put Sheridan to the back of her mind. She says: 'I got married and had two children. But thoughts of my nana were always with me.' Then, in 2021, a conversation with a relative spurred Sharon to search for Sheridan online. 'I felt a cold chill as his name popped up in a news article,' she says. 'I was shocked and extremely angry to read he had been released in May 2019.' The Ministry of Justice has told us Sharon was not notified of the release because when Sheridan was jailed, there was no victim support scheme in place. Sharon, now living in North Yorkshire, was horrified to discover that her grandmother's killer had been housed in a hostel just 30 minutes from her own home. Worse still, he had struck again within a month of being freed, brutally attacking a mum. She learned that Sheridan had been drinking rum at his probation hostel in Leeds, defying an alcohol ban, before taking money to meet a female sex worker. The woman made a phone call while they were behind a skip in a commercial yard and they began to fight, before some men turned up and stole Sheridan's money. Later, he grabbed a woman around the neck as she walked home from the gym, forcing her into a bush. He then made her put on two pairs of tights and asked her to perform a sex act. The victim only managed to escape when a dog walker passed by. Sheridan was caught after police found the tights at the scene, with his DNA. Under questioning, he told detectives the victim was not 'my type' and he probably would have raped and killed her if she was older. 6 Sharon Owens as a child Credit: WNS 6 That terrible day on 13 December 1985, when she was raped and killed in her own home, will haunt me forever, says Sharon Credit: - Commissioned by The Sun Sheridan also admitted he'd had a fetish for women in their sixties and seventies ever since he had seen a naked nun when he was in care as a child. He had stolen her tights and wore them to bed. Since then, he had carried women's tights around with him and had urges to rape and kill. On his first court appearance for the latter attack, he even tried to strangle a female dock officer when she took him back to his cell. In 2019, at Leeds crown court, Sheridan admitted robbery, false imprisonment, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 'COLD CHILL' He was given sentences of 11 years and life with a minimum of five and a half years. The judge said he should only be considered for parole if he 'is so enfeebled by age that he is no longer able to pose a danger'. But Sharon worries that he will be released at the end of his sentence, if not sooner, given the growing pressure to let prisoners out early due to overcrowding. While he could, in theory, be managed in the community, the Probation Service in England and Wales is already in crisis. An annual report released in April found that the service has too few staff with too little experience and training. Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, said that attempts to 'keep others safe' are 'consistently insufficient'. Sharon says: 'It beggars belief that this monster was deemed safe to be let out. I feel very angry that I was never even informed and to discover he was living so close to me . . . there are no words. 'He could have come to find me, as I was the main witness in the trial. Learning he had been released unleashed flashbacks and all sorts of trauma that I had tried to mask for years.' It beggars belief that this monster was deemed safe to be let out. Sharon In February this year, Sheridan, 61, was eligible for parole again and Sharon successfully begged the authorities not to make the same mistake as last time, submitting a powerful victim statement. His 11-year sentence is due to end in 2030, and he has served his minimum life term, so he will be able to apply for parole once more. A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'The board has a thorough review process which closely examines and scrutinises any parole release decision after a serious further offence. 'This involves outside experts, judges, psychologists, psychiatrists, as well as senior management, and is in place to identify any lessons that could help prevent further tragedies.' Sharon admits she finds the thought of Sheridan being back on the streets 'utterly terrifying'. She says: 'This man is a real danger to women. He is evil, dangerous and has no conscience. 'Meanwhile, I've spent almost 40 years having vivid nightmares about finding Nana's body. 'This man can never be released. He will kill again, I know it.'
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I found my nan's semi-naked body after she was killed by tights fetish maniac.. and then he moved down the road from me
Almost 40 years since finding the battered body of her beloved gran, Sharon Owens, 52, was shell-shocked to learn her killer was free and had struck again… just down the road from where she lived 'HE'LL KILL AGAIN' I found my nan's semi-naked body after she was killed by tights fetish maniac.. and then he moved down the road from me Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS she walked into her grandmother's silent house, young Sharon Owens had a sense of foreboding. It had been a sanctuary to the 12-year-old since her dad died, but was to become a place that would haunt her for ever. 6 Sharon was horrified to discover that her grandmother's killer had been housed in a hostel just minutes from her own home Credit: - Commissioned by The Sun 6 Sharon found the bludgeoned body of her beloved nan Glenys Credit: WNS 6 Sharon was informed that Donald Sheridan had been arrested and charged with the sickening crime Credit: WNS It was December 1985 and Sharon had just finished her paper round when she entered the living room to find the bludgeoned body of her nana Glenys on the floor. The 67-year-old had been raped, killed and left wearing nothing but her pants and a pair of tights by a murderer with a twisted fetish. Almost 40 years on, Sharon was rocked to the core when she discovered not only that the killer had been released from prison, but that he was located just 30 minutes from where she now lived. 'Nana was my entire world, my everything,' says Sharon, 52. 'It's nearly 40 years since I've felt her comforting arms around me. She was like a tiny bird, so petite at 4ft 9in tall, but she had the biggest heart I've ever known. 'That terrible day on December 13, 1985, will haunt me for ever.' Glenys had been Sharon's saviour after her father, John — who was Glenys's son — had died three years earlier of cancer, aged 41. Her mum, Beryl, had struggled and was emotionally distant. The family home was chaotic, so Sharon moved in with Glenys in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. 'My nana had become my sanctuary after losing my dad,' says Sharon, who was one of six children. 'Her three-bedroom house was filled with warmth. 'She didn't have much money, but she had a little leather purse she'd fill with coins and then give to me to spend when it was full. 'Mushroom killer' Erin Patterson GUILTY of murdering three relatives with deadly beef wellington 'She'd buy me Breakaway chocolate biscuits and we'd snuggle on the sofa watching EastEnders. 'She taught me life skills, too. How to be independent, how to manage money and, crucially, how to love and care for others.' Earlier that fateful day, Sharon had popped in after school to tell her grandmother she would be doing her paper round before heading back for dinner. 'Nana was always happy to see me and gave me a big hug,' she recalls. But Glenys was not alone. Donald Sheridan, a friend of Sharon's older brother, was at the house. 'He didn't say anything, he just stared at me,' says Sharon. 'Nana loved everyone, but I knew she wasn't keen on Donald. She didn't like my brother being friends with him, but she'd welcomed him in with her kind nature.' It was 9pm when Sharon returned to Glenys's house and tried to let herself in. She says: 'Nana always left a key on a string behind the front door. You could put your hand through the letter box and retrieve it. 'But when I put my hand through as usual, there was no key. I looked through the letter box and called out, but there was no answer, despite the living room and landing light being on.' 6 Sharon Owens pictured aged 11, a year before her grandmother was murdered Credit: WNS 'She'd buy me Breakaway chocolate biscuits and we'd snuggle on the sofa watching EastEnders. 'She taught me life skills, too. How to be independent, how to manage money and, crucially, how to love and care for others.' Earlier that fateful day, Sharon had popped in after school to tell her grandmother she would be doing her paper round before heading back for dinner. 'Nana was always happy to see me and gave me a big hug,' she recalls. But Glenys was not alone. Donald Sheridan, a friend of Sharon's older brother, was at the house. 'He didn't say anything, he just stared at me,' says Sharon. 'Nana loved everyone, but I knew she wasn't keen on Donald. She didn't like my brother being friends with him, but she'd welcomed him in with her kind nature.' It was 9pm when Sharon returned to Glenys's house and tried to let herself in. She says: 'Nana always left a key on a string behind the front door. You could put your hand through the letter box and retrieve it. 'But when I put my hand through as usual, there was no key. I looked through the letter box and called out, but there was no answer, despite the living room and landing light being on.' We walked into the house together and found Nana dead, semi-naked in front of the fire in her living room. I just screamed and screamed. 'I was thrust into a world without the unconditional love and the security Nana had given me, forced to move back into an uncaring home.' 'I didn't pass any of my exams, I truanted and I left aged 15 without any qualifications. I didn't care about anything,' she says. 'I experienced flashbacks and felt guilty for not being at home to protect Nana.' As Sharon grew into a young woman, she tried to put Sheridan to the back of her mind. She says: 'I got married and had two children. But thoughts of my nana were always with me.' Then, in 2021, a conversation with a relative spurred Sharon to search for Sheridan online. 'I felt a cold chill as his name popped up in a news article,' she says. 'I was shocked and extremely angry to read he had been released in May 2019.' The Ministry of Justice has told us Sharon was not notified of the release because when Sheridan was jailed, there was no victim support scheme in place. Sharon, now living in North Yorkshire, was horrified to discover that her grandmother's killer had been housed in a hostel just 30 minutes from her own home. Worse still, he had struck again within a month of being freed, brutally attacking a mum. She learned that Sheridan had been drinking rum at his probation hostel in Leeds, defying an alcohol ban, before taking money to meet a female sex worker. The woman made a phone call while they were behind a skip in a commercial yard and they began to fight, before some men turned up and stole Sheridan's money. Later, he grabbed a woman around the neck as she walked home from the gym, forcing her into a bush. He then made her put on two pairs of tights and asked her to perform a sex act. The victim only managed to escape when a dog walker passed by. Sheridan was caught after police found the tights at the scene, with his DNA. Under questioning, he told detectives the victim was not 'my type' and he probably would have raped and killed her if she was older. 6 Sharon Owens as a child Credit: WNS 6 That terrible day on 13 December 1985, when she was raped and killed in her own home, will haunt me forever, says Sharon Credit: - Commissioned by The Sun Sheridan also admitted he'd had a fetish for women in their sixties and seventies ever since he had seen a naked nun when he was in care as a child. He had stolen her tights and wore them to bed. Since then, he had carried women's tights around with him and had urges to rape and kill. On his first court appearance for the latter attack, he even tried to strangle a female dock officer when she took him back to his cell. In 2019, at Leeds crown court, Sheridan admitted robbery, false imprisonment, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 'COLD CHILL' He was given sentences of 11 years and life with a minimum of five and a half years. The judge said he should only be considered for parole if he 'is so enfeebled by age that he is no longer able to pose a danger'. But Sharon worries that he will be released at the end of his sentence, if not sooner, given the growing pressure to let prisoners out early due to overcrowding. While he could, in theory, be managed in the community, the Probation Service in England and Wales is already in crisis. An annual report released in April found that the service has too few staff with too little experience and training. Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, said that attempts to 'keep others safe' are 'consistently insufficient'. Sharon says: 'It beggars belief that this monster was deemed safe to be let out. I feel very angry that I was never even informed and to discover he was living so close to me . . . there are no words. 'He could have come to find me, as I was the main witness in the trial. Learning he had been released unleashed flashbacks and all sorts of trauma that I had tried to mask for years.' It beggars belief that this monster was deemed safe to be let out. Sharon In February this year, Sheridan, 61, was eligible for parole again and Sharon successfully begged the authorities not to make the same mistake as last time, submitting a powerful victim statement. His 11-year sentence is due to end in 2030, and he has served his minimum life term, so he will be able to apply for parole once more. A spokesperson for the Parole Board said: 'The board has a thorough review process which closely examines and scrutinises any parole release decision after a serious further offence. 'This involves outside experts, judges, psychologists, psychiatrists, as well as senior management, and is in place to identify any lessons that could help prevent further tragedies.' Sharon admits she finds the thought of Sheridan being back on the streets 'utterly terrifying'. She says: 'This man is a real danger to women. He is evil, dangerous and has no conscience. 'Meanwhile, I've spent almost 40 years having vivid nightmares about finding Nana's body. 'This man can never be released. He will kill again, I know it.'
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kelly Clarkson called secret nickname by frustrated staffers after Las Vegas cancellation: report
She's Already Gone. It appears as though Kelly Clarkson's staffers have found an outlet for their anger, and it includes coming up with a secret nickname about the global superstar. The 'Since U Been Gone' singer, 43, angered the masses after canceling her debut show at the Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace on Friday — just moments before she was due onstage. 6 Kelly Clarkson performing at the Citi Concert Series for the 'Today' Show on May 6, 2025 in New York City. Jackie Brown / The final nail in the coffin appeared to be when she further postponed her Saturday show. As a result, the 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' songstress left some of her workers scrambling for answers, with one perplexed staffer telling the Daily Mail that Clarkson's new nickname is a 'flake.' 6 Kelly Clarkson Studio Sessions Las Vegas residency poster. kellyclarkson/Instagram 'She's the sweetest woman in show business. And not to be mean, but she's being a flake,' they told the outlet. 'I'm sorry, but that's how it feels. She's being flaky. And that's very hard to be in business with.' The staffer added that while they 'love' the 'Breakaway' hitmaker, 'the whiplash' from her eleventh-hour cancelation 'is a lot.' 6 Kelly Clarkson canceled the Las Vegas residency due to vocal issues. Instagram/@kellyclarkson 'She's all in on the talk show, then she's not, then she is again. She's performing in Vegas, now she's not. It's her voice. It's personal issues. It's enough to make you crazy,' they added. While crew members weren't in the know about the reason behind the cancelation, one worker told the outlet that the singer pulled the plug on her gig for voice-related reasons. 'Honestly I don't know if it's her voice or not,' they said. 'She has had voice issues before and obviously it's a lot of work preparing for a residency.' 6 Kelly Clarkson performing at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on October 19, 2024. Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Post has reached out to Clarkson's reps for comment. It comes just days after sources detailed the alleged behind-the-scenes drama that snowballed following the cancelation. An insider claimed that Clarkson's crew was kept 'completely in the dark' about her plans to pull out of Friday's hotly anticipated gig. 6 Kelly Clarkson is the host on The Kelly Clarkson Show. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images 'Everyone working behind the scenes was in complete shock,' they told The Sun. 'They woke up Friday expecting a normal day of work and began their day like always.' The source explained that staffers were well into the work day before they allegedly learned the show would not go on, calling it 'utterly disrespectful.' Earlier this week, sources told Page Six that there was a deeper reason behind the 'Stronger' singer's decision to cancel her show. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters 'She belts out every single note. She's an incredibly powerful singer, but it takes its toll on her vocal cords and she's come incredibly close to needing surgery before,' they revealed. 'She cannot risk damaging her cords further — she's on thin ice.' 6 Caesars Palace sign advertised Dolly Parton and Kelly Clarkson residencies. kellyclarkson/Instagram Besides preserving her powerhouse voice, Clarkson is reportedly dealing with issues in her 'insanely complicated' personal life. 'Kelly is fighting some serious hidden battles that very few people are privy to …it's a source of emotional and therefore physical distress for her,' one source said, referring to her yearslong messy divorce battle with ex Brandon Blackstock. The exes, who finalized their divorce in 2022, share two children: daughter River Rose, 10, and son Remy, 8. Clarkson's 18-show residency is scheduled to run at Caesars until November 15.
New York Post
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Kelly Clarkson ‘devastated' after abruptly canceling first shows of Las Vegas residency
Kelly Clarkson had to breakaway from her Las Vegas residency. The singer, 43, was set to kick off her 'Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency' at Caesars Palace on Friday, July 4, but had to postpone for the time being. 'We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience with and for my incredible fans,' Clarkson wrote in a statement on Instagram. 'I am beyond grateful that you always show up for me and I am devastated to have to postpone tonight and tomorrow's opening at Caesars. The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my voice.' Advertisement 6 Kelly Clarkson cancels Las Vegas residency opening. Instagram/@kellyclarkson She went on to explain to her followers that she wants 'the shows to be perfect for y'all and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve.' 'The show is truly incredible,' gushed Clarkson. 'The musicians and singers are outstanding, and I want us all to start out strong. I can't wait to be back next weekend and show y'all what we've been working on.' Advertisement The artist is set to perform in a total of 18 shows until November 15. 6 Kelly Clarkson. Instagram Fans flocked to the comments section to share their disappointment in the last-minute news. One social media user wrote, 'I'm a huge fan and flew here from Boston spending thousands on tickets and hotels to see your show tomorrow for my 40th birthday. I really want you to be healthy but cancelling this late has such a huge financial impact on your loyal fans,' while a second added, 'Ughhhh I was so excited for opening night. We were ALL so excited waiting in line all day. I hope you feel better.' Advertisement Another concertgoer explained, 'I wish you would've done this sooner than 15 mins before doors opening. I hope you feel better.' 6 Kelly Clarkson performs onstage during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival. Getty Images for iHeartRadio Others, meanwhile, understood her stance. 'When you ACTUALLY sing live, you are allowed this grace. Rest that incredible instrument,' one person said. Advertisement Another Clarkson ally noted, 'We know queen kelly rarely cancels her show.. it's her voice that at risk.. let her rest. knowing her personality it must be really really hard and breaking for her to cancel a show. she loves her fans.' 6 Kelly Clarkson performs in 2023. Getty Images for iHeartRadio 6 Kelly Clarkson at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. Getty Images for dcp The 'Breakaway' singer first announced her residency in February, sharing in a statement: 'I'm so excited to be back in Vegas! We're bringing the studio to the stage this time with 'Studio Sessions!' See y'all there!' Clarkson is no stranger to the Vegas strip, as she previously had a residency there in 2023 called 'Chemistry: An Intimate Evening with Kelly Clarkson.' It ran at the Bakkt Theater after the release of her tenth studio album, 'Chemistry.' These days, along with continuing her singing career, the 'American Idol' winner hosts her talk show 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' in New York City. 6 Kelly Clarkson with her kids. kellyclarksonshow/Instagram Advertisement Rumors have swirled for months that the celeb wants to step away from the series to spend more time with her daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remy, 9, whom she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. 'Kelly's No. 1 priority is her children, and they always will be,' an industry insider told Page Six in April. 'The show is grueling. It's a whole lot of work and I hear that Kelly would like to spend more time down South.'
Metro
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Legendary News at Ten presenter Sandy Gall dies aged 97
Sandy Gall, a legendary presenter on News at Ten, has died at the age of 97. The veteran broadcaster died at his home in Kent on Sunday, his family has confirmed. Their tribute read: 'His was a great life, generously and courageously lived.' Gall was arguably one of the most familiar faces on British TV with a career spanning five decades. He started out in 1952 at the Aberdeen Press and Journal before a ten-year stint at Reuters. In 1963, he joined Independent News Television (ITN), where he remained until his retirement from journalism in 1992. Gall – whose real name was Henderson Alexander Gall – started strong at ITN, as one of his first assignments saw him head to Dallas, Texas, just hours after the assassination of President Kennedy. From there, he fronted coverage on some of history's biggest events. His work as a foreign reporter and troubleshooter took him to Afghanistan, Africa, China, the Far East, the Middle East, and Vietnam. In 1965, he presented coverage on the American civil rights movement and interviewed world-famous activist Martin Luther King Jr. Then, in 1970, Gall started hosting ITV's News at Ten, which, at the time, was the most-watched news programme in the UK. His final presenting appearance came in January 1991, but he returned as a special reporter for 12 months before retiring properly. Following retirement, Gall worked as a freelancer for television and written journalism from 1993 onwards. Projects during this time included his 1995 ITV documentary Network First: The Man Who Saved the Animals and presenting BBC Radio 4's travel programme Breakaway, plus BBC Radio 2's The Empty Quarter. Overall, Gall's career saw him lead reports on some of the most defining stories of the 20th century, such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding and the 1980 United States presidential election. In the early 2000s, he also worked with Channel 5 on reports from Afghanistan. Away from screens, Gall founded and became the chairman of Sandy Gall's Afghanistan Appeal, a charity for disabled Afghans. The organisation was founded alongside his wife in 1986, and it ran for 22 years. More Trending In 2020, a statement on its website confirmed 'with sadness' that the charity would be closing down, partly due to a lack of long-term funding, but also because Gall felt the charity had 'achieved many of its original objectives'. Throughout its time, the organisation assisted thousands of Afghans with disabilities. This included training Afghan professionals to provide artificial limbs and other mobility aids for more than 25,000 people, plus physiotherapy treatment for over 60,000 patients. In his personal life, Gall, who was awarded a CBE in 1987, married Eleanor Smyth in 1958. She died in 2018. He is survived by a son, Alexander, and three daughters named Carlotta, Fiona, and Michaela. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Big Coronation Street and Emmerdale news confirmed as ITV issue statement MORE: ITV Coronation Street issues 'be vigilant' warning to soap fans using social media MORE: Legendary ITV star 'can't shake off' role in show watched by 25 million viewers a night
